FIA investigate Hamilton over move in Japanese GP

Oct 4, 2007, 15:04 GMT

Shanghai - FIA have asked McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and team boss Ron Dennis to appear before race officials after video footage emerged Thursday that appeared to show the Formula One championship leader driving recklessly during last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

The video, which was filmed from the grandstands at Fuji, appeared on the YouTube website and seemed to show Hamilton decelerating dramatically on the right of the track, forcing Red Bull's Mark Webber to slow down.

Webber has accused Hamilton of causing him to be hit by Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel by speeding up and slowing down behind the second safety car.

'I think he did a shit job behind the safety car,' Webber said. 'He did a shit job and that's it. He spoke in the driver's briefing about how good a job he was going to do and he did the opposite. But we know for next time.'

Vettel, who has been handed a 10-place penalty for this weekend's Chinese GP in Shanghai as a result of the accident, also questioned Hamilton's actions.

'I was wondering what happened to him. I already thought he was retiring because he was going so slow and by the time I looked back, I was already in Mark's rear,' said Vettel.

The footage has since been taken down and replaced with the message: 'This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Formula One Management.'

However, a FIA a spokesperson confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that an official investigation had not yet been opened although this could occur Friday. A penalty has not been ruled out.

Hamilton leads team-mate Fernando Alonso by 12 points in the drivers' standings with just two races remaining and victory in Sunday's Chinese GP in Shanghai would ensure the 22-year-old becomes the youngest driver and the first rookie driver to win the title.